made five hours after death, and there was so much destruction of the
stomach by a process resembling digestion that only the pyloric and
cardiac orifices were visible. Hanford suggests that this was an
instance of antemortem digestion of the stomach which physiologists
claim is impossible.

Nearly all cases of rupture of the stomach are due to carcinoma, ulcer,
or some similar condition, although there have been instances of
rupture from pressure and distention. Wunschheim reports the case of a
man of fifty-two who for six months presented symptoms of gastric
derangement, and who finally sustained spontaneous rupture of the
posterior border of the stomach due to overdistention. There was a tear
two inches long, beginning near the cardiac end and running parallel to
the lesser curvature. The margin of the tear showed no evidence of
digestion. There were obstructing esophageal neoplasms about 10 1/3
inches from the teeth, which prevented vomiting. In reviewing the
literature Wunschheim found only six cases of spontaneous rupture of
the stomach. Arton reports the case of a negro of fifty who suffered
from tympanites. He was a hard drinker and had been aspirated several
times, gas heavily laden with odors of the milk of asafetida being
discharged with a violent rush. The man finally died of his malady, and
at postmortem it was found that his stomach had burst, showing a slit
four inches long. The gall bladder contained two quarts of inspissated
bile. Fulton mentions a case of rupture of the esophageal end of a
stomach in a child. The colon was enormously distended and the walls
thickened. When three months old it was necessary to puncture the bowel
for distention. Collins describes spontaneous rupture of the stomach in
a woman of seventy-four, the subject of lateral curvature of the spine,
who had frequent attacks of indigestion and tympanites. On the day of
death there was considerable distention, and a gentle purgative and
antispasmodic were given. Just before death a sudden explosive sound
was heard, followed by collapse. A necropsy showed a rupture two inches
long and two inches from the pyloric end. Lallemand mentions an
instance of the rupture of the coats of the stomach by the act of
vomiting. The patient was a woman who had suffered with indigestion
five or six months, but had been relieved by strict regimen. After
indulging her appetite to a greater extent than usual, she experienced
nausea, and made violent